The journalist Constantino Mediavilla, president-editor of the groups ‘Madridiario’ and ‘Diariocrítico’, died this Saturday at the La Paz Hospital in the capital after several years of fighting cancer, according to what ‘Madridiario’, the newspaper, published that he directed.
The journalist, who He will receive his last goodbye at the Servisa Mortuary (calle Juan Mieg, 3) as of this noon, he began his professional career at ‘Cadena Ser’ in the 1980s, passing through the news programs of ‘Onda Galicia-Cadena Ser’, ‘Radio Minuto’ and ‘Radio 16’, before joining the Radio Office of the Madrid City Council to later launch the ‘El Brasero’ talk show on ‘Radio 16’ at the end of that decade.
A model that he would later transfer to ‘Onda Madrid’ with ‘La Chimenea’. In 2000 he founded ‘Madridiario.es’and two years later he created the Madrid Awards, whose XXII edition gala ceremony, on June 3, was one of Mediavilla’s last public appearances.
The journalist combined his position as president-editor of ‘Madridiario’ and ‘Diariocrítico’ with collaborations on different stations on the country’s radio, as well as television programs and written media.
Named Chronicler of the Town in 2019, received numerous recognitions such as the Amigo de Madrid Award, awarded by the Municipal Tourism Board (1990); the Villa de Madrid ‘Guillermo Marconi’ Radio Award (1991); the Madrid Police Chief’s Award (1995); the Madrid Municipal Police Award for informative work (1996); the Environmental Initiatives Award for the La Chimenea program (1997); the Radio Award from the Department of Environment of the Community of Madrid for the Píntalo de Verde environmental program of Onda Madrid (1998), or the Award for Tourism Quality in information from the Community of Madrid (1999) are the first recognitions that obtained before embarking on the adventure of founding the first digital newspaper in the region.
Likewise, he obtained the Villa de Madrid ‘Mesonero Romanos’ Award of Journalism (2000); the Antena de Plata for the radio programs on Onda Madrid (2002); the APEI-PRTVI Silver Microphone Award (2006); Antena de Plata as Editor of Madridiario (2014); the Recurra-Ginso journalistic award ‘in favor of childhood’ as Editor of Madridiario (2015); the Maximum Hispanic Pride, awarded by the International Association of Journalists of Las Vegas (2019); the APM Award for specialized journalist in Madrid 2019, the Antena de Oro 2020 by the Federation of Radio and Television Associations of Spain and the medal of honor from the Institute of Madrid Studies (2024).
Grand Cross of the Second of May
A great lover of golf, the last great recognition took place this same year with the granting of the Grand Cross of the Order of Dos de Mayo, which he received from the hands of the president of the region, Isabel Díaz Ayusoduring the day of the Community festival.
Preceded by a long ovation and aided by a walker, Mediavilla entered the stage that day to warn that he had “a lot left to do” despite his illness and claimed the role of caregivers.
“You can do journalism in freedom, live together, cohabit. Everyone has been here and everything has happened,” said Mediavilla, who thanked the health workers for their work and called on public institutions to take caretakers into account. “Without them it is difficult to move forward, one alone cannot It can, but we all… Together we can,” he added that day.
In that same event, Díaz Ayuso highlighted Mediavilla’s “life of work at the service of Madrid”, “one of the great journalists”as well as “tireless storyteller in print, digital, radio and television.”
Almeida’s “great sadness”
The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, has highlighted the “great sadness” left in the capital by the loss of the journalist Constantino Mediavilla, president-editor of the groups ‘Madridiario’ and ‘Diariocrítico’ and died this Saturday.
Through his social networks, Martínez-Almeida has defined Mediavilla as a “great passionate about this city” that “until the last day he lived and worked with that passion”, while remembering his role as Chronicler of the Town.
Finally, the mayor has sent his condolences to the journalist’s family, as well as his colleagues from ‘Madridiario’ and ‘Diariocrítico’.
The Government delegate in the Community of Madrid, Francisco Martín, has also said goodbye to him on social networks. “Goodbye, friend Constantinemaster of Madrid journalism, ‘Cronista de la Villa’, has published accompanied by a message of affection and support for his family, friends and colleagues.
For his part, the general secretary of the PSOE-M, Juan Lobato, has assured that Madrid “loses a great journalist and a man well”, at the same time he recalled his speech collecting the Grand Cross of the Order of the Second of May a little over a month ago. “All my love to his wife, family and friends. I will miss you dear Constan. Thank you for everything,” Lobato’s publication concludes.
The general secretary of the PP in the Community of Madrid, Alfonso Serrano, has also referred to the “sad news” of the loss of the journalist, “a great man of the Madrid press” and “above all a friend and good person.” “My deepest condolences,” he wrote on his social media.
The Socialist Group in the capital’s City Council has joined in the condolences for the death of Mediavilla, “one of the most beloved voices” in the city. “You stay in Madrid forever”, the socialists have added on their networks.
